Final Jeopardy: U.S. Presidents (11-21-13)

The Final Jeopardy question (11/21/2013), in the category “U.S. Presidents” was:

The second man to become president who was never elected to the job, he twice ran for the position unsuccessfully.

The 2013 Teachers Tournaments finalists face off today in the first of a 2-day battle for the grand prize of $100,000. John Pearson, Becky Giardina and Mary Beth Hammerstrom will all win good money. Second place gets $50,000 and third place gets $25,000.

Mary Beth found the Jeopardy! round Daily Double in “Dinosaur Names.” She was in second place with $4,200, $800 behind John’s lead. She bet $800 and she was RIGHT.

The high-flying pterodactyl’s name means “winged” this body part. show

WHAT ARE FINGERS?

Mary Beth finished in the lead with $7,200. John was second with $5,000 and Becky was last with $1,400.

Mary Beth found the first Daily Double in “Non-Fiction.” She was now in second place with $8,800, $1,000 less than John’s lead. She bet $1,000 and she was RIGHT.

This best-seller by Lynne Truss has been described as “a book for people who love punctuation”. show

WHAT IS “EATS, SHOOTS AND LEAVES”?

With two clues left on the board, Mary Beth got the last Daily Double in “Charter School.” She had a big lead with $8,600 now, $8,000 more than John in second place. She bet a very conservative $600 and thought it was Germany. That was WRONG.

The Pffaffenbrief or Priests’ Charter of 1370 made the first mention of a confederation that became this country. show

WHAT IS SWITZERLAND?

Mary Beth finished in the lead with $16,000. John was next with $8,600 and Becky was in third place with $5,000.

Only ONE of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.

WHO IS MILLARD FILLMORE?

Nine men became President of the United States without being elected due to a President’s death, assassination or resignation. Four of them (Theodore Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge, Harry Truman and LBJ) were subsequently elected to another term. The five who were never elected were, in this order: John Tyler (death of Wm. Henry Harrison); Millard Fillmore (death of Zacary Taylor); Andrew Johnson (Lincoln assassination); Chester Arthur (Garfield assassination); and Gerald Ford (Nixon resignation).

Becky wrote down “Andrew Johnson.” She lost all her money and finished with $0.

John got it right after crossing out Johnson. He bet $6,600 and finished with $15,200.

Mary Beth wrote down “Chester Arthur.” She lost her $5,000 bet and finished with $11,000.

Here is another video from Keith of The Final Wager with some more insight into Tournament betting strategies: